Coast Guard Helicopter Exhibit Opens with Ceremony June 18

Ceremony features Coast Guard officials

SEATTLE, June 9, 2011--A restored 1960s-vintage Coast Guard helicopter officially takes its place of honor suspended in The Museum of Flight's Great Gallery on June 18. The Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard amphibious helicopter was last stationed at Port Angeles, Wash., and was retired in 1982. There will be a dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. with representatives from the Museum and the Coast Guard. The ceremony is open to the public, and free with admission to the Museum.

Exhibit Dedication Ceremony June 18
Speakers at the exhibit 11 a.m. dedication ceremony include Museum President and CEO Doug King, and Rear Adm. Gary Blore, Thirteenth Coast Guard District Commander. Adm. Blore is recognized as an "Ancient Albatross of the Coast Guard," an award honoring the Coast Guard aviator on active duty who has held that designation for the longest time. A veteran HH-52 pilot, the admiral will speak about the significance of the Seaguard during its operation in the Northwest. Other speakers will be Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles Cmdr. Richard Hahn, and Coast Guard pilot Lt. Mark Haines, the HH-52 restoration team leader.

Helicopter Installation June 13
The HH-52 helicopter will moved into the Museum on Monday, June 13. The large aircraft will be suspended about 30 feet above the floor of the glass-walled Great Gallery. Media desiring to cover the installation procedures are advised to call the Museum Public Relations Office for exact times.

The Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard
The Seaguard helicopter served as a workhorse for the U.S. Coast Guard for over 25 years. The amphibious aircraft has been credited with saving 15,000 lives and $1.5 billion in property loss and damage since its deployment with the Coast Guard in 1963. Ninety-nine HH-52s were based on Coast Guard cutters, icebreakers, and air stations until retirement in 1989. The Museum's helicopter entered service in 1966 and has flown missions from Detroit, Mich., Mobile, Ala., Elizabeth City, N.C., and Cape May, N.J. Its last station was Port Angeles, Wash. It was retired in 1982 and donated to The Museum of Flight in 1988.

The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. The Museum's collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn® -- the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Airpark includes outdoor displays with the first jet Air Force One, a Concorde airliner, and the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Museum aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. The Education Office offers weekend family programs, programs for students and educators, and overnight camps for children. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visitwww.museumofflight.org